Death or Glory (Russian: Смерть или Слава, Smert ili Slava) is a science fiction novel by Vladimir Vasilyev, first published in Russian in 1998, then translated into English (however, not published) in 2004 by Capricorn Publishing. The first part of Death or Glory may be read online. The novel is the first of four describing the future of humankind among the stars. Humans have acquired faster-than-light travel centuries ago (it's only recently at the galactic scale), but does not progress further. All energetic and ambitious people have moved to new colonies, leaving the Earth to stagnate. The galaxy is ruled for long by an alliance of five powerful races, mired in an ancient war with extra-galactic Imperishable. Without this war, the Alliance would enslave the Humankind like it treats other newcomers, but now Svaighs just don't have the will and resources. Despite this, most people live in filth and poverty. But the situation changes, when people gain a bleak chance to succeed — and show the Galaxy they aren't going to refuse of it, these Homo with a motto Death or Glory. Source: Wikipedia (en)